DesignTripper.

Thank you Daily Candy for this tip on the travel blog Design Tripper. I love it! Blend Travel + Design and you’ve got a new fan! This blog is one of my new favorites. This team of bloggers searched out exceptionally well-designed vacation homes, cabins, inns, motels, hotels, even tents to rent, from California to Tuscany. The pictures are gorgeous and the details make you feel like you’re already on vacation. This weeks post is a eye-opener with a hotel called 40 Winks that is designed by London-based interior designer David Carter that features only two rooms for rent but an experience of true surreal charm.

London is Feeling Hot Hot Hot.

Red is the color of fire. The color of heat. The color of deep love. And now the color of London’s Serpentine Pavilion. It’s too hot not to post (rather say cool – but you get the picture). This temporary summer arts gallery pavilion opened in London’s Kensington Gardens early this summer. Masterfully designed by world-renowned French architect Jean Nouvel, it is the 10th commission and architectural experimentation in the Gallery’s annual series and the architect’s first completed building in the United Kingdom.

The building’s web site states that “the design for the 2010 Pavilion is a contrast of lightweight materials and dramatic metal cantilevered structures. The entire design is rendered in a vivid red that, in a play of opposites, contrasts with the green of its park setting. In London, the colour reflects the iconic British images of traditional telephone boxes, post boxes and London buses. The building consists of bold geometric forms, large retractable awnings and a sloped freestanding wall that stands 12m above the lawn. Striking glass, polycarbonate and fabric structures create a versatile system of interior and exterior spaces, while the flexible auditorium will accommodate the Serpentine Gallery Park Nights and Marathon and the changing summer weather.”

It reminds me of those cute colorful jewel tones transparent Amac plastic boxes with lids sold at the Container Store. I always am drawn to them but have no idea what to use them for. =0) Maybe these teeny boxes inspired Nouvel?!

Container Store Amac Boxes

All Serpentine Gallery photographs by: Philippe Ruault (found on Interior Design Magazine website)

Lonny Goes Live.

The August/ September issue of online magazine Lonny is published. I am a huge fan if this beautiful virtual glossy. Check it out and become a fan yourself !

Orange Lonny-Pop.

I have become smitten with Lonny Mag. In the recent issue, incredible designer and founder of Pieces Atlanta, Lee Kleinhelter, is featured in a beautiful article with mouth-watering pictures of a condo she redesigned in her own building with a rustic edge and modern sophistication. I’m drawn to the consistent use of whites, creams, browns and juicy orange. Lee recently thanked me for a post on one of her goods sold through her online store (love it!).

Lee Kleinhelter

Kleinhelter sees lighting as just as important as a sofa.If she can’t find the right one, she creates one herself with found objects. Who’s got talent? =)

Love the brown geometric's and neutral shades. My kind of room.

The furnishings and colors enhance the forever views and blue skies. Who does not love a little orange pop?

Woven wallpaper softens any space and grounds a room so you can use bright accents, vivid art, and sleek finishes.

Lee shares that most of her own furnishings are purchased at flea markets and are mostly previously owned goods that are restored to her liking.

Refurbished chairs balance the smooth golden burlwood table and antique clock. When is breakfast served?

The cityscape and the thrill of the wild come inside for fun entertaining and relaxing sunset views. The bar is now open.

Cork wallpaper dampens sound in the den creating a perfect getaway. Nail heads, suede, and a glossy white moose give it all an unexpected rustic charm.

The flow through the condo is so consistent, however, I just love this pop of purple that dots the master bedroom... a perfect pairing with the deep orange accents.

I love the white dressing table and pair of cork base lamps. I too subscribe to less is more approach when dressing up a table surface... this collection of accessories is less competing.

“It’s about the lines, materials, and the mix” — Lee K. I could not AGREE more! It’s obvious that Lee’s decorated spaces result in staying power rich with color, harmony, uniqueness, and sophistication.

The custom horizontal painted lines behind the orange headboard's and round golden accents is the topping on the sundae.

I'm a round mirror promoter and the lucite base on this console gives this room a lift and brings the eye to the shapes on the wall.

House Calls.

Thank you to the Washington Post for making me the guest designer for this week’s House Calls!

This Silver Spring, Maryland homeowner sought the WP to help create a cafe style area for their kitchen that also once served as a dining space. Prior to reaching out to WP, they added new checkerboard flooring, wall paint, lighting, and a tiled window ledge surface (to be used for a collection of indoor plants). They like the existing white cabinets, eucalyptus green and terra-cotta colors in the flooring, paint and brick wall and have an appreciation for mosaics.

BEFORE

BEFORE

With a budget in place from the homeowner and a list of things the homeowners liked, needed, or preferred, I created a room that is comfortable, open, easy to navigate, inviting, energizing, and organized. It was important to the homeowner that it was not too modern and worked alongside their more transitional preference for design. Low furnishings allows them to retain those pretty views to the outside. The adjustable and durable seating gives them room to add more if required.  An organized sideboard and new countertops calms the eye and hides bin storage. Window treatments, accent pillows and area rug soften the solid and cool surfaces. While ceiling lighting and a lamp add a pleasing glow to the room.

STORYBOARD: Suggested items for the space.

The sketch artist at the Post did a nice job at trying to illustrate my vision for the space. Some things are slightly skewed but a rendering does not replace a final photograph of a finished product. See the WP results below (the red dots are anchors for further descriptions of the items used in the rendering (see storyboard above or see the online House Calls here).

AFTER (rendering)

Thank you WP! I enjoyed helping your loyal readers with their House Call!

Tony Townhouse.

I feel the enthusiasm that Decor8 exudes in her post on the town-home of Christine d’Ornano. I too love the splashes of color and the tony London location this home resides. Decor8… you were a nanny for the CEO of Liz Claiborne? Very cool. For those of you who also want a feel for this lifestyle and love of decor and more… read the article here. I’ve shown some of my fav photos of this gorgeous townhouse below but there is more at Elle Decor.

Evolving and Embracing with O’Brien.

He’s at it again. Mr. Thomas O’Brien that is. If you are not a subscriber to Town & Country, this post is your invitation into interior designer Thomas O’Brien’s new book American Modern. T&C gathered some insight into the designers’ remarkable gift for carrying over design from classical to neoclassical, from Georgian to Federal, from early to mid-century modernism… all building blocks for his own sense of tradition. The common thread in O’Brien’s work is keeping things simple and refined with less ornamentation and less material.

Classic continental NYC apartment on a modern industrial scale.

O'Brien's apartment showcases his inspirational art collection.

A mix of fine French and casual American modernist furnishings layers beautifully.

Modernist art eases the formality in this iconic Fifth Avenue apartment.

A revived formality is kept comfortable with more refined elements in this living room.

This downtown loft kitchen is clean in detail but rich in tradition.

Designing for Daughter.

Have you ever seen a cute living space in a magazine and loved every scrap of it? I happen upon that situation all of the time. Rip, cut, pull… and out come the tear sheets for my style file or inspiration board. This is certainly the case with an article on the super designer mother-daughter duo from Good Bones Great Pieces. Mom Suzanne is an Emmy-winning producer, garnering five Emmys over her decade-long career at Martha Stewart Living Television and daughter Lauren is a former fashion features writer for Teen Vogue magazine. What an incredible journey those two are on! Recently published in Traditional Home, savvy mom helped daughter design a cozy fresh and bright post college NYC apartment sourcing recycles, heirloom, flea market and sometimes slightly imperfect pieces that are budget friendly, stylish, feminine, and oh-so-timeless. Hats off to this new graduate, her helpful supermom, and the lovely new home! Check out the results!

Campy + Kitschy in Cosa Mesa.

Defying convention can create results that are unexpected and intriguing. That’s what designers Melissa and Marc Palazzo, who own interior design and project management firm Pal + Smith, did with their remodeled residence showcased in the final Metropolitan Home December issue. I like the fresh pops of yellow and green throughout the home, grounded by the white walls and deep-toned furniture and accessories. The mix of materials and decided placement of art creates a very personalized space. Both natural and man-made elements are allowed to flourish inside and out.

Met Home December Cover

Pal + Smith Tribeca Table in the informal dining room.

 

Leather-upholstered Bettibelle chair and Daryl Millard painting.

 

Marble-topped white-oak dining table and Lars Bolander stool.

A window over the sink offers views of the dining room. Love the stools.

A ground-floor powder room with Parsons-style vanity and Cole & Sons wallpaper.

Bing Bang pendant from Plug Lighting hangs above sleek glass railing.

Brazilian wood Edge bed by Environment Furniture in master bedroom.

 

George Smith tufted chair sits on a terrazzo floor in master bathroom.

Addition by architect Henry Buckingham rests behind the artificial turf lawn.

 

 

 

The Winner Takes All.

At New York City Ace Hotel, Roman & Williams together with graffiti artists Mint & Serf create a winning hand with the new design of this popular renovated hotel in Midtown. The look is a combination of industrial age meets modern art studio. Rowan & Williams completely transformed this 1904 building, originally the Hotel Breslin, into an industrial-chic travel mecca with punk and vintage- inspired custom furniture as well as original architectural accents. Its a study in randomness – grand and mysterious yet relaxed and idiosyncratic. This hotel wins the game of chance.

New steel canopy at hotel entrance.

Latex painted signage by Mint & Serf.

The lobby's slate-topped salvaged tables.

A guest room's custom leather-covered sofa bed and Ryder E. Robinson wall art.

Oils were used by the designer to paint the scene on a wool hanging.

The lobby includes wool covered chairs with painted embellishments.

The reception showcases old old magazine pages as a collage.

Photography by Interior Design photographer Eric Laignel.